Sand plain fynbos conservation : the Kenilworth Racecourse case study

Bibliography: pages 114-122.The current extent of Sand Plain Fynbos and threats to its survival are examined, with a view to proposing effective means of managing areas of high conservation priority. Extensive depletion of Sand Plain Fynbos has resulted from agricultural development, urbanisation and its susceptibility to invasion by introduced woody plant species. The need to conserve this veld type is apparent in that only 0.05% of the original Cape Flats Sand Plain Fynbos still survives within scattered refugia. A mere 3.8% of this already minute fraction is represented in proclaimed nature reserves, clearly illustrating the neglected conservation status of this veld type. The majority of the remaining habitat owes its survival, albeit in various stages of degradation, to low impact land uses not related to conservation per se. The in-fields of the three racecourses on the Cape Flats in total comprise the land use supporting the largest area of Sand Plain Fynbos. This suggests the potential compatibility of such a land use with conservation in the longer term. Of the three racecourses, Kenilworth is the most important in terms of area, diversity and unprecedented numbers of threatened flora and fauna of the fynbos it supports. This provides a case study on which to base an assessment of the trends in species survival on small remnants. A historical backdrop to the isolation and degradation of the Kenilworth Racecourse and neighbouring remnants is provided. The predictions of conservation theory for the long-term viability of such small and isolated remnants are then reviewed. To determine the effects of recent events and processes on the conservation merits of Kenilworth Racecourse, species extinctions and turnover from 1950 to the present are determined for the flora and avifauna respectively. Past and current species checklists form the basis of this analysis. Causes of species loss are investigated by comparing the physical attributes and habitat preferences of the species present with those which have apparently become extinct locally. The influence of private landownership on the conservation security of Kenilworth Racecourse is of fundamental importance to its future conservation. In this respect, the likelihood of change in land use of the in-field fynbos, as well as the Racecourse area as a whole, is a crucial factor addressed in this study. The present and future operating requirements of the Racecourse Management are also determined and their likely effects on the natural system are assessed. The study establishes a need for conservation management at Kenilworth Racecourse. The approach adopted to achieve the ongoing conservation of the area is through the development of a Conservation Management Plan. The latter has been derived through reasoned and personal interaction with the Racecourse Management and is aimed towards integrating the needs of the Management with the ecological requirements for the natural system under its control. The creation of corridors to facilitate migration of biota, as well as the reintroduction of those species which have become extinct locally, are described as an adjunct to these proposals. The implementation of an organised burn programme is proposed as a management procedure to counteract species loss. Evaluation of initial success resulting from the Management Plan reveals that there is now an improved communication channel with the Management. This encompasses moral obligations for eradication of alien vegetation, abstention from further drainage of wetlands, prevention of future encroachment of parking within the natural system and an agreement to cease indiscriminate dumping of refuse material. A major constraint facing the conservation of the area is the reluctance of the Management to allow public interest groups direct involvement with monitoring and implementation of proposals presented within the Management Plan. The research findings and conservation management approach generated by the study are important because they have potential for promoting the long term conservation of analogous remnants, not only within the fynbos biome, but in other similar systems further afield. Although threats exist to the ongoing survival of Sand Plain Fynbos remnants, these should not prejudice their selection as areas worthy of sound conservation management. Remnants have inherent value as refugia. They are also of potential importance as sites for reintroduction of species that have become extinct locally, as educational resources and as relatively low-maintenance open spaces within the urban landscape

A Phenomenological Study of the Shared Lived Experiences of Students with Disabilities in Inclusion Classrooms

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experience of inclusion for students with disabilities regarding the practice of inclusion at a rural middle school in Southwest Virginia. The theories guiding this study were Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory of cognitive development and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. The central research question for the study was: What are the shared lived experiences of students with disabilities in an inclusion classroom? Other questions addressed social and academic experiences of students with disabilities in inclusion classrooms. The study took place in intermediate and middle schools in rural Southwest Virginia. Purposeful sampling was used to select a group of students with disabilities that could provide information. The sample included thirteen, fifth through eighth grade students between the ages of 10 and 14. Data were collected through individual interviews, observations in the inclusion classroom, and a focus group of students with disabilities, which allowed triangulation. The researcher examined the data for themes regarding the lived experience of inclusion for students with disabilities in fourth through eighth grades. Analysis of the data provided three themes including, relationships, equity, and acceptance. The major factor that contributed to the success of inclusion and feelings of social acceptance and academic gains among the participants was the attitude of the teacher. The participants described feeling accepted and achieving success academically due to their teachers’ positive attitudes. In addition, the participants described the learning atmosphere and described the different strategies implemented by the teachers to help them succeed

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Mental Health Well-Being Among Staff of a Domestic Violence Shelter

The purpose of this qualitatively study via the Case Study approach was to recognize the impact that coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) had on the mental health of randomly selected female domestic violence shelters’ board members, staff, volunteers, and counselors and therapists. To guide this study, the theory of integrating existing knowledge of a topic generated an in-depth, multi-faceted understanding of a complex issue. The case study aimed to answer how COVID-19 impacted higher levels of stress, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress symptoms in the female gender. The study focused on the experiences of vicarious trauma (VT), secondary traumatic stress (STT), compassion fatigue (CF), burnout (BO), social services fatigue (SSF), acute stress disorder (ASD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among the service providers as well as the work functions of the shelters’ staff impacted by the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic. Multiple data sources will be relied upon to build an in-depth, contextual understanding of the case

MENTHOL FLAVORED AND FLAVOR CAPSULE CIGARETTES: A MIXED METHODS STUDY EXAMINING PACKAGING AND CONSUMER PERCEPTIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES

ABSTRACT Background The Philippines has one of the world’s largest menthol cigarette market shares and the market for flavor capsule cigarettes, most offered in menthol flavor, is growing. Menthol flavored cigarettes mask the harshness of smoking and are associated with smoking initiation and decreased likelihood of quitting smoking and staying quit. Methods This research utilized a mixed methods multiphase design consisting of three strands to examine marketing and consumer perceptions of flavored cigarettes among young adults in the Philippines. In the first strand, a quantitative content analysis of cigarette packs purchased in the Philippines was used to describe the similarities and differences between structural and graphic elements of packaging across packs grouped by flavor and flavor capsule inclusion. In the second strand, focus group discussions were conducted with young adults in Manila to explore their interpretations of cigarette flavor related descriptors and imagery on cigarette packaging and explore perceptions of product harm and appeal. In the third strand, an experimental survey was conducted to assess young adult consumer perceptions of menthol and flavor capsule cigarettes in terms of relative harm, appeal, and intention to try. Results This dissertation demonstrates how cigarettes, grouped by flavor and capsule inclusion, are marketed differently via packaging in the Philippines. Young adult Filipino consumers interpret variations of the descriptors, “ice” and “fresh”, on packaging as indicative of a cool sensation and menthol flavor. Capsule imagery on packaging is commonly understood to communicate the ability to change the flavor of the cigarette. Young adult Filipino consumers distinguish between blue menthol and green menthol, perceiving the former as less harmful and the latter as more. Flavored cigarettes are appealing to young adult Filipinos. Concept flavors, such as “purple breeze” are particularly appealing. More young adult Filipino consumers report an intention to try flavored capsule cigarettes than non-flavored and non-capsule cigarettes. Discussion This dissertation provides evidence regarding the marketing and consumer perceptions of flavored and flavor capsule cigarettes in a lower middle income country context. Results can inform tobacco control regulations in the Philippines and other jurisdictions considering packaging and labeling regulations and provisions that limit flavors in tobacco

Transcranial doppler re-screening of subjects who participated in STOP and STOP II.

In children with Sickle Cell Disease, the combination of risk stratification with Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound (TCD) and selective chronic red cell transfusion (CRCT-the STOP Protocol) is one of the most effective stroke prevention strategies in medicine. How fully it is being implemented is unclear. Nineteen of 26 sites that conducted the two pivotal clinical trials (STOP and STOP II) participated in Post STOP, a comprehensive medical records review assessing protocol implementation in the 10-15 years since the trials ended. Professional abstractors identified medical records in the Post STOP era in 2851 (74%) of the 3,840 children who took part in STOP and/or STOP II, and documented TCD rescreening, maintenance of CRCT in those at risk, and stroke. Among 1,896 children eligible for TCD rescreening (target group), evidence of any rescreening was found in 1,090 (57%). There was wide site variation in TCD rescreening ranging from 18% to 91% of eligible children. Both younger age and having a conditional TCD during STOP/II were associated with a higher likelihood of having a TCD in Post STOP. Sixty eight new abnormal, high risk cases were identified. Despite clear evidence of benefit the STOP protocol is not fully implemented even at experienced sites. Site variation suggests that system improvements might remove barriers to implementation and result in even greater reduction of ischemic stroke in children with SCD. Am. J. Hematol. 91:1191-1194, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Ischemic Stroke in Children and Young Adults with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) in the Post-STOP Era

Abstract Background: The Stroke Prevention Trial in Sickle Cell Anemia (STOP) and Optimizing Primary Stroke Prevention in Sickle Cell Anemia (STOP 2) established routine transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) screening with indefinite chronic red cell transfusions (CRCT) for children with abnormal TCD as standard of care. To identify children at high-risk of stroke, annual TCD screening is recommended from ages 2 to 16 years, with more frequent monitoring if the result is not normal. A reduction in stroke incidence in children with SCD has been reported in several clinical series and analyses utilizing large hospital databases when comparing rates before and after the publication of the STOP study in 1998. We sought to determine the rate of first ischemic stroke in a multicenter cohort of children who had previously participated in the STOP and/or STOP 2 trials and to determine whether these strokes were screening or treatment failures. Subjects and Methods: Between 1995 and 2005, STOP and STOP 2 (STOP/2) were conducted at 26 sites in the US and Canada. These studies included 3,835 children, ages 2 to 16 y with SCD type SS or S-beta-0-thalassemia. Participation in STOP/2 ranged from a single screening TCD to randomization. STOP 2 also had an observational arm for children on CRCT for abnormal TCD whose TCD had not reverted to normal. The Post-STOP study was designed to follow-up the outcomes of children who participated in one or both trials. 19 of the 26 original study sites participated in Post-STOP, contributing a total of 3,539 (92%) of the STOP/2 subjects. After exit from STOP/2, these children received TCD screening and treatment according to local practices. Data abstractors visited each clinical site and obtained retrospective data from STOP/2 study exit to 2012-2014 (depending on site) including follow-up TCD and brain imaging results, clinical information, and laboratory results. Two vascular neurologists, blinded to STOP/2 status and prior TCD and neuroimaging results, reviewed source records to confirm all ischemic strokes, defined as a symptomatic cerebral infarction; discordant opinions were resolved through discussion. For the first Post-STOP ischemic stroke, prior TCD result and treatment history subsequently were analyzed. Results: Of the 3,539 subjects, follow-up data were available for 2,850 (81%). Twelve children who had a stroke during STOP or STOP2 were excluded from these analyses resulting in data on 2,838 subjects. The mean age at the start of Post-STOP was 10.5 y and mean duration of follow-up after exiting STOP/2 was 9.1 y. A total of 69 first ischemic strokes occurred in the Post-STOP observation period (incidence 0.27 per 100 pt years). The mean age at time of stroke was 14.4±6.2 (median 13.8, range 3.5-28.9) y. Twenty-five of the 69 patients (36%) had documented abnormal TCD (STOP/2 or Post-STOP) prior to the stroke; 15 (60%) were receiving CRCT and 9 (36%) were not (treatment data not available for 1 subject). Among the 44 subjects without documented abnormal TCD, 29 (66%) had not had TCD re-screen in the Post-STOP period prior to the event; 7 of these 29 (24%) were 16 y or older at the start of Post-STOP, which is beyond the recommended screening age. Four of the 44 (9%) patients had inadequate TCD in Post-STOP (1 to 10.7 y prior to event). Six (14%) had normal TCD more than a year before the event (1.2 - 4 y); all but one of these children were younger than 16 y at the time of that TCD. Only 5 (11%) had a documented normal TCD less than 1 year prior to the event. Conclusions: In the Post-STOP era, the rate of first ischemic stroke was substantially lower than that reported in the Cooperative Study of Sickle Cell Disease, prior to implementation of TCD screening. Many (39%) of the Post-STOP ischemic strokes were associated with a failure to re-screen according to current guidelines, while only 11% occurred in children who had had recent low-risk TCD. Among those known to be at high risk prior to stroke, treatment refusal or inadequate treatment may have contributed. While TCD screening and treatment are effective at reducing ischemic stroke in clinical practice, significant gaps in screening and treatment, even at sites experienced in the STOP protocol, remain to be addressed. Closing these gaps should provide yet further reduction of ischemic stroke in SCD. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare

Crystallographic and magnetic identification of secondary phase in orientated Bi5Fe0.5Co0.5Ti3O15 ceramics

Oxide materials which exhibit both ferroelectricity and ferromagnetism are of great interest for sensors and memory applications. Layered bismuth titanates with an Aurivillius structure, (BiFeO3)nBi4Ti3O12, can possess ferroelectric and ferromagnetic order parameters simultaneously. It has recently been demonstrated that one such example, Bi5Fe0.5Co0.5Ti3O15,where n = 1 with half the Fe3+ sites substituted by Co3+ ions, exhibits both ferroelectric and ferromagnetic properties at room temperature. Here we report the fabrication of highly-oriented polycrystalline ceramics of this material, prepared via molten salt synthesis and uniaxial pressing of high aspect ratio platelets. Electron backscatter images showed that there is a secondary phase within the ceramic matrix which is rich in cobalt and iron, hence this secondary phase could contribute in the main phase ferromagnetic property. The concentration of the secondary phase obtained from secondary electron microscopy is estimated at less than 2.5 %, below the detection limit of XRD. TEM was used to identify the crystallographic structure of the secondary phase, which was shown to be cobalt ferrite, CoFe2O4. It is inferred from the data that the resultant ferromagnetic response identified using VSM measurements was due to the presence of the minor secondary phase. The Remanent magnetization at room temperature was Mr ≈ 76 memu/g which dropped down to almost zero (Mr ≈ 0.8 memu/g) at 460 oC, far lower than the anticipated for CoFe2O4

Measuring resilience in electricity generation: An empirical analysis

Carbon constraints will act as a significant fuel shock for electricity generation. This paper seeks to use previous fuel shocks (the 1970s oil price crises and the global surge in energy demand that started in 2003) as the context for analysing the adaptive capacity of electricity generation to large fuel shocks. Resilience is the framework for analysis and the metrics analysed are based on the characteristics of resilience; diversity, spare capacity and organisational structure. This approach differs from current energy resilience research in its pursuit of empirical evidence for the relevance of metrics. The findings indicate that spare capacity is the most important metric for predicting favourable outcomes but diversity also plays a role